CVE-2026-74654: Linux kernel · serial: 8250_dma: Clear stale RX state on shutdown
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 28 Oct 2026, 01:00 UTC
Rated by Threat Radar · CVSS not yet scored by NVD
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1123.132~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1122.131~20.04.1 +27
Exploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 22 Aug 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Patches and advisories
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gkepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gke?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: serial: 8250_dma: Clear stale RX state on shutdown serial8250_release_dma() terminates RX DMA and releases the channel, but leaves rx_running set. If the port is closed while an RX transfer is active, the stale state remains while rxchan is NULL until the channel is requested again on the next open. The DesignWare BUSY workaround added by commit a7b9ce39fbe4 ("serial: 8250_dw: Ensure BUSY is deasserted") calls serial8250_rx_dma_flush() from the LCR write path during startup. This happens before serial8250_request_dma() obtains a new RX channel. On reopen, the stale rx_running state therefore makes the flush path pass a NULL channel to dmaengine_pause(), causing a kernel Oops. Clear rx_running after terminating RX DMA, matching the TX cleanup. Also make the flush helper return if the DMA object or RX channel is not available so startup and teardown paths cannot pass a NULL channel to the DMAengine API.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-74654 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-74654 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/e2fe6a0efecbef00e3ecc2db64dd5afa8c212b41 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8878-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8879-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8877-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8875-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8875-2 (opens in a new tab)